Odisha former IAS officer Hrusikesh Panda to head tribal affairs ministry expert panel

Bhubaneswar: Odisha cadre retired IAS officer Hrusikesh Panda will head union ministry of tribal affaris (MoTA) expert panel.

According to an official release, Panda, chairman of the expert committee, will look into the different aspects of the Forest Rights Act 2006. The Act aims to protect the rights of Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers. The committee will submit its report, suggestive guidelines and recommendations to the ministry within three months.

The committee will also review and suggest detailed steps to be taken by the State governments in the form of guidelines to speed up the process of recognition of community rights in the country, said the release adding, the Committee will specially focus on (a) Habitat Rights of PVTGs and (b) Seasonal Resource access to Nomadic and Pastoralist communities.